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Meth seized in “Operation Shaw-Crank Redemption”

Officers say they busted a drug ring based in Fort Smith. 23 were indicted and officers say they were all working with the Gamboa drug trafficking organization.

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Updated: 9:01 AM CDT Jun 12, 2013

Meth seized in “Operation Shaw-Crank Redemption”

Officers say they busted a drug ring based in Fort Smith. 23 were indicted and officers say they were all working with the Gamboa drug trafficking organization.

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Updated: 9:01 AM CDT Jun 12, 2013

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WEBVTT ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS SAY THEY'VE MADE ARRESTS IN A DRUG BUST THAT SEIZED 22 POUNDS OF METH. 4029'S JOSH TAYLOR IS IN FORT SMITH WITH THE LATEST ON THAT INVESTIGATION THAT STARTED TWO YEARS AGO. HE'S LIVE AND LOCAL. A FEW HOURS AGO, A THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ANNOUNCED THE END OF AN INVESTIGATION INTO WHAT THEY ARE CALLING "SHAWCRANK REDEMPTION". OFFICERS SAY THEY'VE BUSTED A DRUG RING BASED RIGHT HERE IN FORT SMITH...23 HAVE BEEN INDICTED AND OFFICERS SAY THEY WERE ALL WORKING WITH THE GAMBOA DRUG TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATION. Connor Eldridge, U.S. Attorney: "We're proud to stand here before you today and say that this organization is out of business." SPECIAL AGENT BILL BRYANT OF THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION SAYS METHAMPHETAMINE IS THE NUMBER ONE DRUG THREAT IN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS. Bill Bryant, Drug Enforcement Administration: "The majority of these methamphetamine ice cases, the methamphetamine ice is manufactured in Mexico and smuggled across the U.S. border. The methamphetamine we seized here in this investigation was seized here and destined for Arkansas, so our efforts were able to keep those drugs off the street here in our state." INVESTIGATORS SAY GERARDO GAMBOA--WHO LIVES IN FORT SMITH--WAS THE HEAD OF THE GAMBOA DRUG TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATION...THEY SAY SEVERAL PEOPLE WORKED FOR HIM DISTRIBUTING AND SELLING METH. INVESTIGATORS SAY SAY SEVERAL UNDERCOVER OFFICERS BOUGHT DRUGS FROM PEOPLE WORKING FOR THE GAMBOA ORGANIZATION. OFFICIALS SAY THIS INVESTIGATION TOOK PLACE IN ARKANSAS, TEXAS, CALIFORNIA AND MISSOURI. Kevin Lindsey, Fort Smith Police Chief: "A lot of these folks were arrested here in Fort Smith, which is indicative of the problem that we have and we want to do everything we can to curb the drug problem and to make people aware of the risks involved when you deal with drugs." BESIDES THE 22 POUNDS OF METHAMPHETAMINE ICE, AUTHORITIES SAY THEY HAVE ALSO SEIZED 10 HANDGUNS, FOUR CARS, TWO MOTORCYCLES, AND FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS IN CASH. THIS INVESTIGATION HAS RESULTED IN 49 ARRESTS SO FAR, AND THE PENALTIES ON THOSE VARIOUS CHARGES RANGE FROM AS LITTLE AS EIGHT YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON. LIVE IN FORT SMITH, JOSH TAYLOR, 40/29 NEWS. LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS SAY THE STREET VALUE OF 22 POUNDS OF METH ICE IS NEARLY A MILLION DOLLARS.

Meth seized in “Operation Shaw-Crank Redemption”

Officers say they busted a drug ring based in Fort Smith. 23 were indicted and officers say they were all working with the Gamboa drug trafficking organization.